Drop Out

“‘I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, I was naked, and you did not clothe Me, I was sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’ And they too will reply,
‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ Then the King will answer, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for
Me.’” Matthew 25:43-45

I’m a Pro Life Dropout. I admit it. However, if I titled my blog, “Pro Life Dropout,” it would come across as brash and harsh.
The point of this blog isn’t to offend anyone; although I am certain it will. The point of this blog is to simply reveal where I’ve been versus where I sit today. It’s called a journey. It’s my testimony.

In the early 1980’s, my childbearing years, I was as passionate about the abortion issue as I was about any other issue I’ve felt led to tackle. I was determined. I stuffed envelopes. I volunteered with single mothers.
I donated clothes, diapers, and formula. I marched in protests. I stood on Center Street in Deer Park as part of the Life Chain. I was actively assertive for almost 10 years.

My mind hasn’t
changed about babies, although anytime I try to have this conversation with most of my friends, I’m called “Pro Abortion” or “A Baby Killer.” We have such sweet ways of talking to one another, don’t we? With New York’s
recent law, which was misrepresented on many posts incidentally, my fellow Christians have stepped forward with great fervor. I get it. I understand. I just am not that person anymore.

One
time, I was making a sign to march in a Pro-Life rally and my mom dropped by to visit. She hugged me, sat down, watched me draw and paste, and then said, “Don’t forget the mother in all of this.” It was a powerful lesson despite its simplicity.
I think my mother was right. We often forget both the life, the feelings, and the needs of the mother when we are so passionate about saving a baby that we lose sight of who is also affected.

Another
time, I received a solicitation in the mail from a national right to life organization. There was a handwritten note on the top from a staff person at my church urging me to give. I gave. Within the same year, this staff person was instrumental in stopping
the baby dedications for unwed mothers at our church. He felt the church needed to take a stand against promiscuity. He felt to dedicate the baby was to tell the mother (and the congregation) that it was okay.

That was the day I stopped referring to myself as Pro Life.

If the Lord leads you to speak out, speak out. If the Lord leads you to march, then march. If the Lord leads
you to stand in a Life Chain in your city or town, stand firm. But, as my mother said to me, don’t forget the mother. I fear we are working to stop legal abortion while being blind to the fact abortion will continue. It’s always
been there, legal or backstreet. When our efforts to “win” are realized, I hope what’s not lost in the argument is both the mother and the baby are important to God. Both.